“His thing? His thing!?” Tyler was cracking, quicker and quicker with each passing second. He looked back at Conor, who shrugged. “He’s lucky to have us here. We are trying to save DEFIANCE from the UTA Fireflies!”

Conor chimed in. “I do agree with my good brother.” He said, first looking Sterritt over and then the rest of the office just in case there were video cameras. “I’ve been an avid gamer of DEFIANCE for some time now. I’ve told my brother you need us. Where is Bronson Box? Lindsay Troy? Eugene Dewey? Times are different now. You need new players. Players who have experience in a war and can get the job done. And… and he doesn’t want to meet with us?”

Conor’s eyes started to swell up. He was feeling it too, but not anger. Instead, he was hurt.

“I’m sorry.” Is all Bryan Sterritt could say. He was business-like but meant it. “In fairness, Mr. Dane hasn’t seen anyone since Dan Ryan joined UTA’s side…”

That’s when Tyler walked over to Eric Dane’s desk.

CRASH.

He pushed it over.

“FORGET THIS! FORGET YOU! DEFIANCE doesn’t need us!” Tyler shouted.

Sterritt lowered his head and begrudgingly pointed to the door. “Then I guess you can leave.”

Tyler concurred. He grabbed Conor and without blinking walked towards the exit. “Good day to you, Mr. Gamer. Please tell The Developer we hope your system crashes.”

Conor’s hair muffled all over the place as Tyler pulled him out of the office leaving Bryan Sterritt standing there, hands on his hips.

YOU GOT MAD AND QUIT THE GAME.

LOOKS LIKE YOU’LL HAVE TO LOAD A DIFFERENT SYSTEM. WAS JOLT STILL OPERATIONAL?